Page 17

Why don’t you think horny Gabriel thoughts, then make horny cupcakes and take him a couple? You could have him lick the frosting off your-

“Shut up!” I hiss and wish to all that was holy that I could throw something at my inner voice. She’s an annoying trollop.

Them’s fighting words!

I roll my eyes and ignore her, concentrating on getting my cupcakes done. Which is easy enough to do once I think nice Gabriel thoughts. He’s in right now, having a long-winded discussion with someone. It’s a woman from what I can hear. I can’t hear what they’re saying, but the pitch of the voice sounds feminine. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him with a woman, but I don’t really know Gabriel all that well I guess. What if he has a girlfriend and I’ve been making a fool of myself? Dammit. I wish Grammy was here. She’d have some pearls of wisdom.

I stare down at my Halloween inspired cupcakes and wonder if I can eat all twelve or if I’ve wasted my time and should just trash the lot of them.

Or you could do the neighborly thing.

My inner voice sing songs. I mean, I can eat six, maximum, so what would it hurt if I plate up six and leave them outside his door? I mean, I don’t have to see him and his girlfriend, do I?

With my plan in place I select a cute platter in the shape of a ghost for Halloween and place all the cupcakes just so. I take one last look at myself in the mirror, the mirror conveniently hanging next to my vulva and throw the door open before I can second guess myself. I walk the few steps to Gabriel’s door before second guessing myself, turn around and walk back to my apartment.

Don’t be a pussy!

My inner voice screams and I take offense to being called that so just before I reach my door I spin once more and head back to Gabriel’s. I hold the plate in one hand, raise the other to knock and then squeal when the door flings open.

“Brenna?”

Gabriel makes an “oof” sound when I shove the ghost plate into his sternum and I squeeze my eyes shut in embarrassment before spinning once more and power walking the seven steps to my door.

“Brenna, babe, can you stop for a minute it feels like I’m chasing you,” Gabriel’s hand wraps gently around my wrist, stopping me in my tracks.

“I’m so sorry, I made too many and I can only eat six, maximum, before I start throwing up. It’s all that butter cream. I’m not lactose intolerant or anything, I just don’t think I can eat that many cupcakes, and now I’m rambling, sorry I didn’t want to interrupt you and your girlfriend.” I slam my mouth shut and puff my cheeks out because, why the hell not after that verbal diarrhea.

Wow. That was…something.

“Oh shut up!” I hiss and then slap a hand over my face when Gabriel’s brows hit his hairline. “Not you! Sorry. Inner voice.”

He stares at me for a long moment and I send a prayer to Grammy, hoping she can pull some strings and get the floor to swallow me up or something.

“Girlfriend?” Great. That’s the part he focuses on.

“Yeah, um, I heard a woman’s voice.” My eyes almost pop out of my head. “I mean, the walls are thin and I heard a woman’s voice, but I don’t hear what you’re saying or anything so it’s not a privacy issue or anything.”

“But you heard a woman's voice?” His brows furrow as he peers at me.

My brows pinch at his confusion. “Yeah.”

“I’m alone.”

“Huh. Must have been the TV then. I always hear voices coming from your apartment. Voices that aren’t yours,” I add quickly.

His gaze glows gold as he searches my face for a long time. An almost uncomfortably long time.

“Do you want to come in? Share a cupcake maybe?” He looks down at the plate. “Huh, cupcakes with witches hats. Cute.” His gaze meets mine as he turns toward his door, tipping his head in invitation.

“I should really go home and hide under the covers after all that verbal diarrhea, but, I think I would like to share a cupcake with you.”

He grins and it’s like the sun coming out on a cloudy day. It’s beautiful. He’s beautiful. And I feel like I’m walking on said clouds and he waves me ahead of him, into his apartment.

“You’re beautiful too.” He whispers as he passes me in his entryway, headed for the kitchen.

Oh, you’re totally gonna get lucky tonight.

“Shut up.”